Administration cites pending court case
The Ladakh administration has directed the Desert Flower School of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), to stop activities in Phyang, Leh, after stating that the institution began functioning without the required permissions and clearances.
The direction, issued amid an ongoing dispute over land allotted to HIAL, asks the institute to preserve the existing position until the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh delivers its final decision or issues further directions. The administration has described the land matter as sub judice and cautioned against any step that could affect the proceedings.
A notice issued by the Tehsildar’s office in Leh on November 1 was addressed to Gitanjali J Angmo, co-founder and chief executive officer of HIAL and wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk. The Ladakh administration publicly reiterated the direction on Tuesday, November 3.
“Desert Flower School of the HIAL Ecosystem has commenced functioning of the school without necessary clearance/approval from the competent authority.”
School activities questioned
According to the administration, information had been received that classes and other activities at the school had commenced without obtaining the necessary consent, clearances and approvals from the concerned authorities. The notice advised HIAL and its representatives not to undertake further steps connected with the school’s functioning.
The order also asked the institute to strictly maintain status quo. In practical terms, the direction prevents the school from proceeding with its activities while the legal dispute remains before the court. The administration said any new action could prejudice the matter under adjudication.
The Desert Flower School is part of the wider HIAL ecosystem, an initiative founded by Wangchuk. The institute has been associated with alternative approaches to education and the fragile Himalayan environment, although the administration’s latest action concerns the school’s approvals and the legal status of the land on which the HIAL facilities are located.
Land allotment at centre of dispute
The court proceedings relate to the cancellation of land allotted to HIAL. The administration cancelled the allotment in August 2025. The land involved has been described as measuring 1,076 kanals, 134.5 acres and one marla, with the latter equivalent to approximately 270 square feet.
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | HIAL’s Desert Flower School |
| Location | Phyang, Leh |
| Land dispute | Cancellation of allotment to HIAL |
| Judicial forum | High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh |
| Administrative direction | Stop activities and maintain status quo |
The land issue remains unresolved in court. The administration’s notice does not determine the final rights of either side, but seeks to ensure that no further activity alters the position while the proceedings continue.
Request for clearance preceded notice
On September 22, Angmo had approached the Deputy Commissioner, Leh, seeking a No Objection Certificate and clearance for proposed members of the school’s managing committee. The request came before the administration issued its latest warning regarding the commencement of activities.
The administration said the school had started functioning without the requisite approval from the competent authority. It consequently asked HIAL to refrain from taking any action towards operating or expanding the institution until the High Court gives its final ruling or passes another order.
- The notice applies to the functioning and commencement of activities at the Desert Flower School.
- The administration has linked its direction to the pending land-allotment case.
- HIAL has been asked to avoid actions that could prejudice the proceedings.
Wangchuk raises wider Himalayan concerns
The administrative action came on the same day that Wangchuk wrote to President Droupadi Murmu seeking intervention in a separate matter concerning Arunachal Pradesh. He appealed for the protection of indigenous communities, democratic freedoms and the Himalayan environment in connection with opposition to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.
In his letter, Wangchuk described himself as an environmental activist from Ladakh and urged attention to what he termed a disturbing situation in the Siang valley. His intervention in the Arunachal Pradesh matter came as the dispute over the HIAL school continued before the High Court in Ladakh.
For the school in Phyang, the immediate position is therefore governed by the administration’s notice and the pending judicial proceedings. Until the court issues its final decision or further directions, HIAL and the Desert Flower School have been asked not to proceed with activities that require official consent or approval.
